There were none of the customary telegrams of congratulation on a successful election result from the European commission in Brussels to Jörg Haider and his Austrian Freedom party yesterday.

The commission's president, Romano Prodi, declined to offer any comment on the outcome of the election. Only last week, his first trip as president outside the European Union was to Auschwitz, to stress the need for Europe never again to succumb to xenophobia.

Despite Austrian assurances that its position in the EU would be unaffected, there were concerns in Brussels that Mr Haider's Europhobia and opposition to immigration could jeopardise negotiations with eastern Europe states on their accession to the union.

Even if the Freedom party does not enter government, its success may push the conservative People's party, which came third in the election, in a more Eurosceptic direction.

The climate of uncertainty in Vienna before a new government is formed could hamper preparations for December's European summit in Helsinki, which is due to discuss the process of enlargement.

Austria could delay the process, because agreement of all 15 member states is needed for progress to be made.

One of the most fundamental tenets of the EU is the principle of free movement of labour, which could cause difficulties to Austria, which has long frontiers with the applicant countries - Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and possibly after Geneva, Slovakia - which were all part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

Austrian sources in Brussels insisted the country would remain committed to the EU.